



0- s. D. MOXLEY 1,786,218

FLASK HANDLING DEVICE Filed Oct. 7. 1927 '2 Sheets-Sheet 1 it 11111::if? mvENTcm fifephen U. Max/6y \Na BY- ATTORNEY Dec. 23, 1930. s. D.MOXLEY FLASK HANDLING DEVICE Filed Oct. 7. 1927- 2 Sheets-Sheet 2INVENTOR Ste hen [1 Mox/ey ATTORNEY Patented Dec. 23, 1930 UNITED STATESPATENT OFFICE STEPHEN n.- Moxmrr, or BIRMINGHA ALABAMA, assreivon o sum)srUiI PATENTS CORPORATION, on NEW YORK, N11, A c'onronarron or DELAWAREamen-HANDLING nnvren'. T

Application nle a-octoterv, 927. sex m No. 224,553.

This invention is. an improvement inflask handling devices, and moreparticularly in such devices especially adapted for use in connectionwith the plant layout, forming 5 the subject matter of application No.128,443,

filed on August 10, 1926. i

In casting centrifugally theca'sting machines are preferably. arrangedin batteries, with the individual machines alongside each other, insubstantially parallel and spaced re latiomsuitable runs or runwaysbeing provided upon which the flasks may roll toward and from thebattery and between the individual machines, of the battery. V

The runways for the rammedflasks to be cast, and for the cast .fiasks asthey come from the machines to be taken to the shakeout machines areusually arfian ed substantially perpendicular to the runs etween theindividual machines for receiving themammed andthe cast flasksrespectively. I The rammed flasks coming from the ram,- ming machinesmust be given a quarter tu n in order that they may be deposited uponthe runways between the individual machines in proper relation withrespect to such machines, and the dischar ed flasks must be givenaquarter turn for t e same reason, before they are deposited-on therunways leadin to the shakeout machines. I v

referably the fiasksa'le handled in pairs, a pair of rammed flasks eingsimultaneously 1i ted from the depositing runway, and delivered to a'position on the -machine runways between a pair of adjacent machines.From this position they are rolled in opposite directions into the twomachines, the flasks already cast in such machines being rolled out atthe opposite sides. Thus in a battery of machines, the alternate spacesbetween adjacent machines will be devoted to the reception of rammedflasks to be cast and ,t-o the reception of cast flasks respectively. v

One of the primary objects of the present invention is the provision ofmechanism for handling the flasks in pairs, and for engaging andreleasing the pairs automatically.

A further object is the provision of means in connection with thehandling mechanism for imparting thereto a quarter turn as the in thedrawings, the castin rammed fiaskspre lifted from the appropriate runwayto'properly position such flasks for position onthe other runway.

' A furtherobject'is the. provision of means in connectionwith suchmechanism for lock ing the handlin mechanism in either of the ositionsstate thereby to prevent acciental fdisa rrangement 1n depositing.

Wi h theseand other objects in view'the invention consists 'in theconstructionhand novel combination of parts fullydescribed hereinafter;illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and ointed out in the claimsappended hereto, itbein'g understood that various changes in the formproportiom size and minor details of. construction within'the scope ofthe claims,' may fbe resorted to-without departing'from the spirit ofthe invention.

In the'drawings firming. a art he1eof:-. Fig. '1' a diagramr'natlc viewof 8. art oi the plant layout showing the relative ar; rangement of thecasting machines and the w y ,EFig's. 2 and 3 are enlarged sectionstaken on the lines 22and 3-3 of Fig. l.

Fig. 4 is a section on the line 44 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is'an end view of a tiltin .frame of the castihgpanhine with theban ling device partly' in section.

In the embodiment of the invention shown machines 1, which may be of;any selecte" type, are, arra edin a battery of any desired number, asor'instance 12.- Runways indicated respectively at 2 and 3 are arrangedbetween theadjacent airs of casting machines, the runways 2 beingadapted toreceive rammed flasks or molds, and the runways 3 to receivecast flasksor molds.

.The rammed flasks indicated at 4 travel from the rammin machines to aposition near the battery, 8. 011g a runway 5, traveling on the runwayin a direction substantially perpendicular to the direction in whichthey travel on the runways 2 and 3.

Preferably the castin machines are so arranged and constructe thataccess may be had to both sides thereof for the insertion and removal offlask and mold. The flasks are handled in pairs, a pair of rammed flasksbeing picked up together from the runway 5 and deposited on the runway2. When the casting operation is finished, the cast flask is dischargedinto the runway 3, and a rammed flask is rolled into the machine fromthe runway 2. The handling mechanism is then operated to pick up the twocast flasks 4a, and they are removed to another runway 5a, along whichtheyarerolled to the shakeout mechanism for dislodging the casting.

The handlin mechanism shown more particularly in igs. 2, 3 and 4includes a spreader bar 6 suspending by cables 7 from a standardoverhead crane, thefi'fables having hooked engagement with the bar asindicated at 8. A *oke comprising a body 9 and depending egs to bedescribed, has a swivel connection with the spreader bar, the yokehaving secured to the body thereof a pivot pin 11, which engages a hub12. in the spreader bar. The journal pin is tapered as shown, andsuitable bearings 13 are arranged between the pin and the hub 12. Thearrangement is such that the yoke may rotate freely on a vertical axiswith respect to the spreader bar.

Each leg is composed of a pair of plates 10, spaced apart longitudinallyof the yoke body, and connected at their lower end by a block 141 A pairof arms 15 is ivoted to each leg at the lower end thereo between theplates, ona commonlpivotal connection indicated at. 16, the armsbeingmounted to swing into the leg or into a position substantially Thearrangement is such that the arms cannot swin downwardly beyond aposition at 45 to tfle leg, and each is provided with a catch17,.adapted to engage a pin 18 supported by a. link to be described, forvertical movement in the legs.

When the arms are swung upwardly into position between the plates 10 oftheleg, the latches are positioned to be simultaneously engaged by thepin 18, thus to he held in'inoperative position until released. A latchbar 19 is secured to the upper member of the link, which :asshown inFig. 2 is composed of spaced connected straps 20, spaced at their lowerends far enough to enable the arms 15 to swing in position between thestraps.

The latch bar extends transversely of the legs on opposite sidesthereof, and is designed to engage a pair of flasks on one of therunways, to lift the pin 18, thereby to release the arms 15 In thepresent instance the latch bar is shown in engagement with a pair offlasks 4 on the runway 5. When the arms are in contracted position, thelegs of the yoke are of a size to pass between two flasks arranged withtheir ends abutting, and to pass below the runway and into a pit 21 atthe floor level. Just before the lower ends of the legs enter the pitthe latch bar engages the flasks l. lifts the pin 18, and the arms 15swing outwardly. hen now the yoke is raised, the flasks are lifted onthe arms of the two legs, each flask being supported by two arms.

Since the direction of travel of the flasks on the runway 5 islongitudinal to the axis of the machines 1, it is necessary to give theflasks a quarter turn to properly position them on the runway 3 withrespect to the machines. The yoke is as before stated pivotallyconnected with the spreader bar, and in order to impart to the yoke aquarter turn, a cam or deflecting bar 22 is secured to one of the railsof the runway 5. Referring to Fig. 1, it will be seen that the bell endsof the flask are at the ends of the machines toward which the metal ischar ed. Hence, the cam bar 22 is at that side of the runway towardwhich the bell ends of the flasks extend. As the flasks move upward withthe yoke, that is as they leave the runway 5, one of them engages thecam bar 22, and the yoke with its load is swung, the impetus beingsufficient to cause the yoke to move through an arc of at least 90.

In order to stop the yoke in the proper position, mechanism is providedfor limiting the swinging movement of the yoke to an angle of 90. Thismechanism includes a disk 23 secured to the top of the yoke body, andprovided with radial notches 24, arranged at angular intervals of 90,and so positioned that two of the notches are in alinementlongitudinally of the yoke while two are in alinement transverse to theyoke.

An elbow lever 25 is pivoted at 26 to the spreader bar, and one arm ofthe elbow lever is adapted to engage by gravity in the notches, when itis in register therewith. The other arm has suitable operating means 27connected therewith for releasing the latch, and a guide 28 is providedfor that arm of the latch which engages the disk. The said latch armbears by gravity against the periphery of the disk, so that when a notchcomes into register therewith, gravity will cause the arm to engage thenotch.

In order to release the flasks when they have been deposited in theappropriate runway, the mechanism shown in Fig. 5 is provided. Thismechanism is arranged at a pit 29 in the floor level, and includes apair of rollers 30 for each leg, the rollers being journaled in brackets31 at opposite sides of the pit. They are so spaced that when the lowerend of the leg moves between the rollers, the outer edges of the armswill be engaged by the rollers, and the arms will be swung up into theposition of Fig. 5. This occurs before the latch bar engages the flasks,and the latches 17 of the arms have cam edges for engagement with thepin 18 to move the same upward before the notches 17 come into positionto be engaged by the pin, that is into register therewith.

In this construction, each runway has pivoted to the end thereofadjacent the machine, what may be considered as a switch rail 32. Thisrail extends transversely of the machine, and has the free end thereofupwardl Y offset, as shown at 33, the offset portion eing connected tothe body of the rail by a curved stop 34. The portion 33 of the rail isin position for engagement by a hydraulic piston 35 for lifting the railto the position shown in Fig. 5. When the hydraulic mechanism is inexhaust position, the rail descends so that a flask in engagement withthe stop 34 will rest upon the rollers 36 of the casting machine 1..

While the construction shown including the switch rails 32 provides aconvenient mechanism for discharging the cast flasks, the constructionshown in the application of Moore and Morgan, Serial No. 224,635, ofeven date herewith, is also suitable for use with the improved handlingdevice.

It will be apparent from the drawing that the support for the flasks isof a size to pass between two adjacent flasks, and that the supportingarms are normally operative. They are held in contracted position bymechanism released by engagement with the flasks, when the arms are at aselected distance below the flasks. The holding means is normallyoperative when set, that is when it is lifted to position to engage thenotches, and it is set by the contracting movement of the arms. That isthe cams on the arms lift the locking pin to set position.

It will be noticed referring to Fig. 3, that the openings in the strap20 for the pin 18 are elongated, that is they are slots, to obviate thenecessity of raising the straps with the corresponding latch bars 19when the arms are collapsed.

What is claimed as new is 1. In mechanism of the class described, meansfor simultaneously lifting a plurality of flasks, said means pivotallymounted to rotate on a vertical axis, means to impart angular movementto said lifting means, and means to limit such movement to a selectedare, the angular movement imparting means including a cam for engagingthe flasks supported by the supporting means.

2. In mechanism of the class described, means for simultaneously liftinga plurality of flasks, said means pivotally mounted to rotate on avertical axis, means to engage the flasks when they are moved upward bythe lifting means to impart angular movement thereto, and means to limitsuch movement to an arc of 90, said limiting means including a normallyoperative fixed latch, and catches on the lifting means for engagementby the latch spaced at angles of 90.

3. In mechanism of the class described, means for simultaneously liftinga plurality of flasks, said means pivotally mounted to rotate on avertical axis, means to engage the flasks when they are moved upward bythe lifting means to impart angu ar movement thereto, and means to limitsuch movement to a selected are, the lifting means of a size to passbetween two flasks lying alongside each other and having arms normallywlthin the support and arranged to extend laterally therefrom onopposite sides to engage beneath the flasks, normally operative lockingmechanism to hold the arms in contracted position, and means connectedtherewith operated by relative movement of the supporting means and theflasks to release the locking means.

4. In mechanism of the class described, a support adapted to passdownwardly between adjacent flasks, and provided with arms to extendbeneath the flasks, thereby to lift the same when the support is raised,said arms normally extended, and means to hold the arms contracted,released by engagement with the flasks when the arms are positionedbelow the flasks, the holding means normally operative when set andmoved to set position by the contracting movement of the arms.

5. In mechanism of the class described, a support adapted to passdownwardly between adjacent flasks, and provided with arms to extendbeneath the flasks, thereby to lift the same when the support is raised,said arms normally extended, and means to hold the arms contracted,released by enga ement with the flasks when the arms are positionedbelow the flasks, said support pivoted to swing on a vertical axis,means to engage the flasks during the upward movement of the support toimpart angular movement to the support and means to limit the saidmovement to an angle of 90.

6. In "mechanism of the class described, a support adapted to passdownwardly between adjacent flasks, and provided with arms to extendbeneath the flasks, thereby to lift the same when the support is raised,said arms normally extended, and means to hold 1 the arms contracted,released by engagement with the flasks when the arms are positionedbelow the flasks, said support pivoted to swing on a vertical axis,means to engage the flasks during the upward movement of the support toimpart angular movement to the support and means to limit the saidmovement to an angle of 90, said means including a normally operativefixed latch, and catches on the support for engagement by the latch.

7. In mechanism of the class described, runways for supporting cast andunc-ast flasks, a support adapted to pass downwardly between adjacentflasks and provided with normally operative means to engage the flasksat each side thereof, means to hold the engaging means in operativeposition released by the downward movement of the support, and meansbelow the runways and operated by further downward movement of the isupportto move the engaging means to inoperative position.

8. Mechanism for simultaneously handling a plurality of flasks includina support of a size to pass between two flas s lying along side eachother with their corresponding ends abutting, and provided at each sidewith a pair of arms contractible into the support or extensible at rightangles thereto to engage beneath a flask, locking mechanism for holdingall of the arms contracted, and a latch bar connected with the lockingmechanism and movable with respect to the support and adapted to engageabove the flasks, thereby to release the locking mechanism byrelativemovement of the latch bar with respect to the support.

9.'In mechanism of the class described, means to simultaneously shift aplurality of flasks, including supporting arms for the flasks, a supportto which the arms are pivot ed toswing in opposite directions, means tohold the arms in substantially horizontal position, means to lock thearms in inoperative position in the support, and releasing means for thelockingmeans' operated by relative movement of said releasing means andthe support, said support pivoted to swing on a vertical axis, runwaysfor the flasks to be shifted, and means for engagement by the flasksduring the movement of the flasks from the runways to impart angularmovement to the flasks through a selected arc.

10. In mechanism of the class described, means to'simultaneously shift aplurality of flasks, including supporting arms for the flasks, a supportto which the arms are pivoted to swing in opposite directions, means tohold the arms in substantially horizontal position, means to lock thearms in inoperative position in the support, and releasing means for thelocking means operated by relative movement of said releasing means andthe support, said support pivoted to swing on a vertical axis, runwaysfor the flasks to be shifted, and means for engagement by the flasksduring the movement of the flasks from the runways to impart angularmovement to the flasks through a selected arc, said means including aninclined cam for imparting initial movement to the flasks.

11. In mechanism of the class described, means to simultaneously shift aplurality of flasks, including supporting arms for the flasks, a supportto which the arms are pivoted to swing in opposite directions, means tohold the arms in substantially horizontal position, means to lock thearms in inoperative position in the support; and releasing means for thelocking means and the support, said support pivoted to swing on avertical axis, runways for the flasks to be shifted, and means forengagement by the flasks during the movement of the flasks from therunways to impart angular movement to the flasks through a selected are,said means including an inclined cam for imparting initial movement tothe flasks, and means to limit the angular movement to the selected arc.

12. In mechanism of the class described, asupport adapted to passdownwardly between a pair of adjacent flasks, arms pivoted to thesupport and normally biased to swing outwardly away from each other,1neans to limit the swinging movement of the arms to a positionsubstantially at right angles to the support, a pin, the arms havingcatches for engaging the pin, a latch bar slidable on the support andadapted to engage the flasks after the arms have been moved beyond thesame, and a connection between the latch bar and the pin.

13. Flask transporting mechanism comprising a pivoted frame having apair of spaced apart depending members each car rying a pivotedoutwardly swinging flask supporting arm, means co-operating with thepivoted end of the arms for holding them retracted and means carried bythe frame above and spaced from the arms for engaging a flask when theframe is lowered adjacent aflask to release the arm holding means andpermit the arms to swingoutwardly beneath a flask.

14. Flask transporting mechanism comprising a pivoted frame having apair of spaced apart depending members each carrying a pair ofoppositely arranged outward- 1y swinging arms, means co-operating withthe pivoted end of each pair of arms for holding them normally retractedand means carried by the frame above and spaced from the arms forengaging a flask when the frame is lowered between a pair of flasks torelease the arm holding means and permit the arms to swing outwardlybeneath a pair of flasks.

Signed at Birmingham in the county of Jeiferson and State of Alabamathis 15th day of Sept, A. D. 1927.

STEPHEN D. MOXLEY.

